Main menu

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus

be filled with all the fulness of God.

– Ephesians 3:19

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus is a Daily Bible Reading Study by Deborah H. Bateman. It is a study of the book of Ephesians from the New Testament of the Bible. Ephesians is one of the Apostle Paul’s letters, which was written to the church at Ephesus.

In the book of Ephesians Paul reminds us that we are chosen of God. He encourages us to walk in unity in the church. He talks about our various relationships including our relationship with Christ, with each other, the husband-wife relationship and others. He also exhorts us to put on the full armor of God so that we are clothed for battle against the enemy.

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus consists of twelve lessons, which can be used for an individual daily Bible study or a group Bible study. Each lesson consists of a brief commentary, the Daily Bible Reading Scripture, a few questions for contemplation called, “Things to think about,” and a prayer for the day.

For those of you interested in Bible journaling, may I suggest you pick your favorite Bible verse from each lesson and journal about it. This will be a great reminder of the lessons you learn as you read and study this book.

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus

Daily Bible Reading “Armor of God” (Ephesians 6:13-24)

Posted on September 5, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Armor of God

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 6:13-24. We read in this Scripture where Paul talks about putting on the “whole armor of God” so we will be able to stand against the evil of the world we live in.

Paul says to have your “loins girt with truth,” which means to speak the truth. John 1:17 reminds us, “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 4:24 says, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

Paul instructs us to cover our body with the breastplate of righteousness. Matthew 6:33 tells us, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Paul reminds us to cover our feet with “shoes of the preparation” of the gospel of peace. Romans 10:15 says, “And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!”

Paul instructs us to carry the “shield of faith” with us so we can block the fiery darts of evil. Romans 10:17 reminds us, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Paul says we should take the “helmet of salvation.” Romans 10:10 says, “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

First Thessalonians 5:8, tells us, “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”

Paul instructs us to take the “Sword of the Spirit,” which is the Bible. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Can you picture a soldier, ready for battle? That is how prepared we need to be. Put on the full armor of God so we can stand against the evil of this world.

Paul tells us to “pray in the spirit continually for all the saints and be watchful over them.” He instructs us to have an active prayer life. Matthew 26:41 warns us to “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Paul asked the Ephesians to pray for him that he would be bold in preaching the gospel. He tells them to ask God to give him the words to say. We, as Christians, need to pray for our pastors. We also need to pray for fellow Christians and church members. We need to support one another. This is one place the enemy loves to try to attack and we need to stand together for the Lord.

Paul says that he is sending them Tychicus, who is a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. Paul sent him to inform the Ephesians of what is going on. Paul wanted Tychicus to comfort and encourage the hearts of the Christians at Ephesus. Paul ends the letter by wishing them grace and peace from God and Jesus Christ, to all those who love the Lord.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 6:13-24

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

19 And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

20 For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

21 But that ye also may know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:

22 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts.

23 Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.

Things to think about:

What are the parts of the armor of God that Paul mentions in this Scripture?
What are some ways we can arm ourselves?

Have you put on the whole armor of God?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Ephesians where Paul reminds us to put on the whole armor of God. Help us to prepare ourselves, so we can stand for You. Help us to pray continually and lift each other up in prayer. Give us the strength we need to stand against the evil of today. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

– Ephesians 6:13

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;…

Daily Bible Reading “Relationships” (Ephesians 6:1-12)

Posted on September 4, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Relationships

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 6:1-12. In this Scripture Paul talks about some of our other relationships. The first relationship he talks about is how we should honor our father and mother. This is the first, of the Ten Commandments, which had a promise attached to it. The promise is that it may be well with you, and you might live long on the earth.

Deuteronomy 5:16 says, “Honour thy father and thy mother, as the LORD thy God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee, in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

What do you think it means to honor your parents? Maybe to love, obey, respect and cherish them. This Scripture tells us we should obey our parents as their children because it is right. I don’t think we are only supposed to honor our parents when we are children, but all the days of our lives.

Both of my parents have already gone to be with the Lord. If you are fortunate enough to still have your parents around, make sure to show them the honor and respect they deserve. After all, if it wasn’t for them you wouldn’t be here.

Paul gives direction to fathers that they shouldn’t provoke their children to anger by their treatment. They are to bring their children up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Paul talks about servants being obedient to their masters. He says they should try to please them all the time and not just when the masters are watching. They are to work as servants of Christ, pleasing the Lord. We know that God will reward us for every good thing we do whether we are bonded or free. In today’s world we might look at this as employees. When we do our jobs to the best of our ability it not only honors our bosses, it honors God.

Paul tells masters to treat their slaves in the same way. We all have the same Master in heaven. God doesn’t show favoritism, but treats everyone equally. We can use this same example today with the employer-employee relationship.

Paul encourages us to be strong in the Lord, putting on the whole armor of God, that we will be able to stand against all the tricks of the devil. We need to stay in God’s Word and know what it says so we will be able to stand up to the enemy. In this world, we don’t fight against each other. We have to fight against rulers of darkness, powers, and evil spirits in the unseen world.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 6:1-12

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

2 Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;

3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.

5 Servants, be obedient to them that are [your] masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;

7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:

8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.

9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Things to think about:

As adults, how can we still honor our parents?

How can we honor those who have authority over us?

What does Paul mean when he says to put on the whole armor of God?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for this Scripture in the book of Ephesians where Paul reminds us how we should conduct ourselves in our relationships to others. Help us to always honor our fathers and mothers no matter how old we are or how old they are. We see in this Scripture how You have set up certain lines of authority in our lives.

Help us to respect those who have authority over us. Help us to do that as if we are honoring You by our actions toward them. Help us to study Your Word so we will be strong and fully armored and able to stand against the evil of this world. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus

That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

– Ephesians 6:2-3

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as …

Daily Bible Reading “The Husband-Wife Relationship” (Ephesians 5:17-33)

Posted on September 3, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

The Husband-Wife Relationship

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 5:17-33. As we continue the study of the book of Ephesians, Paul talks about the husband-wife relationship and their relationship with God. Paul starts by telling us not to be unwise. We need to understand what the will of the Lord is. What do you think Paul means by that statement?

Paul tells us not to be “drunk with wine”; alcoholism will ruin your life. Not only will it cause you to make bad decisions, it will cause you to waste a lot of money. It will also cause you to ruin your relationships. Proverbs 20:1 says, “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.”

Instead, we are to be filled with the Spirit, speaking in psalms, hymns, singing, and making music in our heart to the Lord. Doesn’t that sound like a joyful person? We are to give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of His precious Son, Jesus Christ.

Being filled with the Spirit is the opposite of being drunk with wine. Wine depresses you and causes you to make bad decisions. The Spirit stimulates you to do well, be happy, and make good decisions.

We are to submit to each other out of reverence to God. One of the definitions of submission is a voluntary attitude of cooperating. Submission isn’t something you are made to do, but it is something you do out of a willing heart. Wives are to submit themselves to their husband, as unto the Lord.

Paul compares the husband-wife relationship to Christ’s relationship with the church. As Christ is the head of the church, the husband is the head of the wife. It is a matter of a God-given order of authority.

The church is submissive to Christ, and wives are to be submissive to their husbands in everything. Notice the Scripture doesn’t say in “some things”; it says “everything.” It seems like the idea of submitting is hard for the women of today to accept. If you’re a wife, pray and ask God to help you to learn to submit to the authority of your husband.

We read in the Scripture how Paul talks about husbands loving their wives as Christ loved the church and gave up His life for it. If husbands love their wives in that way, it will be a lot easier for the wives to submit to them.

The Scripture says that husbands are to love their wives as they love their own bodies and that he who loves his wife loves himself. If you are a husband, pray and ask God to help you to love your wife the way God intended for you to love her.

The husband is to take care of his wife, lead her to maturity in Christ, and cherish her with tender love. The Bible says that a man is to leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife. The two of them will become one flesh this is where marriage comes in. The Scripture says the husband is to love his wife as himself and the wife is to revere or respect her husband.

As special as the husband-wife relationship is, no one can take the place of Christ in your life. Notice, that this Scripture compares the husband-wife relationship to Christ’s relationship with the church. Christ is the head of the church. As Christians we are to submit to Him, as our Lord and Savior.

For those of you who aren’t yet Christians, I hope this example of the husband-wife relationship will help you to better understand the relationship of Christ to His people. If God is speaking to your heart concerning your relationship with Him, pray and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and come into your heart and life today.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 5:17-33

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.

29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:

30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.

31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.

32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

Thing to think about:

How does this Scripture say the husband is to treat his wife?

How does this Scripture tell us the wife is to treat her husband?

How does the husband-wife relationship compare to the relationship of Jesus Christ to the church?

How has this lesson comparing the husband-wife relationship being to Christ relationship to the church impacted your life?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

As we read this Scripture in the book of Ephesians; help us to follow the guidelines that are set before us concerning the husband-wife relationship, so that we might have happy marriages. Help us as Christians, to love, honor, and respect You as the head of the church. For those who aren’t yet Christians, I pray they will accept You as their Lord and Savior. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, LORD. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse:

The Book of Ephesians: Paul’s Letter to the Church at Ephesus

himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.

– Ephesians 5:33

Featured Book:

by Deborah H. Bateman

Go to: Amazon

Get your copy now!

Subscribe to Deborah H. Bateman to receive
Daily Bible Reading Lessons in your inbox.

Have a blessed day,

Deborah

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as …

Daily Bible Reading “Walk in Love” (Ephesians 5:1-16)

Posted on September 2, 2019 by Deborah H. Bateman

Walk in Love

Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Ephesians 5:1-16. Paul continues to exhort us to be followers of God, as “dear children.” What do you think Paul means by that statement? Paul tells us to live a life of love for one another. We are to use Christ for our example. He loved us and died on the cross for our sins as a sacrifice to God that He might please God and do His will.

Paul tells us not to live a life of sexual immorality, impurity, and greediness. He says we should not even let there be a hint of these things in our lives, but to live as saints of God. Paul says we need to be careful of our speech also. He reminds us not to talk about obscene things or tell dirty jokes or talk about foolish things.

Paul says that no one who lives an impure, immoral, and greedy life, which worships the things of this world, will inherit the kingdom of Christ and of God. He warns us not to let anybody deceive us. These sins of disobedience cause the wrath of God to come on those who sin and disobey Him. Paul says we shouldn’t participate with those who do these things either.

Paul reminds us that we were all once in sin. Those of us who have accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior are now children of the light, and need to walk in the light of Christ. We can’t live Holy lives in our own strength. We have to put Jesus at the center of our life and with His help we can live in obedience and conduct ourselves as children of God.

The fruit of the Spirit, which lives in you if you are a Christian, is goodness, righteousness, and truth. We should try to live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. In order to do that we need to study the Bible so we can learn what God’s will is for our lives. We need to examine our lives to see if we are children of the light.

As Christians we’re not to have anything to do with fruitless evil works, but we should expose them to the light. Paul says it is a shame to even talk about the sinful things that ungodly people do in secret. When the light of Christ shines on these sinful acts it becomes clear how wrong they are. His light makes everything visible. This is why he says, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.”

Paul exhorts us to be careful how we live, not as foolish people, but as wise people. He reminds us to make the most of every opportunity that we have to do good because the days are evil.

Daily Bible Reading:

Ephesians 5:1-16

1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth:)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Things to think about:

What does Paul say the “fruit of the spirit” is?

What does Paul warn us about?

How can we shine the light of Christ into this dark world?

How are you walking in the light of Christ?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank You for this Scripture in the book of Ephesians where Paul exhorts us to live as dear children of God. Help us to live godly lives and not participate in things that are evil. Help us to share Your Word with others that the evil of this world might be exposed to Your light. Help us to use the time we have here on earth to do Your will. Please forgive us of any way we have failed to obey you. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

Daily Bible Verse: